At home in Southern Germany, the passionate stock exchange expert has been accompanying the capital markets for about twenty years. With a soft spot for smaller companies, he is constantly on the lookout for exciting investment stories. That it depends thereby less on large names, but on the future potential and whether the market also recognizes these perspectives, was one of its first learnings at the stock exchange.
On these pages, Nico examines current events at listed companies and takes a closer look at companies that are traded under the radar of the market, in addition to well-known securities.
In order to be able to take advantage of speculative opportunities on the stock exchange, Nico not only focuses on a balanced asset allocation of defensive and opportunity-oriented securities, but also on an intact risk management. "In addition to position size and entry in several tranches, investors should also develop a sense of timing and get to know a stock better before investing," says the columnist.
Commented by Nico Popp
Commented by Nico Popp on April 14th, 2026 | 07:15 CEST
Opportunities from the Agricultural Transition: Bayer, Sumitomo, and MustGrow Biologics
Conventional agriculture must rethink its approach: Chemical pesticides are to be reduced and replaced with biological alternatives. Strict regulations, such as the European Union's (EU) Farm-to-Fork Strategy, make this path irreversible and call for a 50% reduction in chemical risks associated with pesticides by 2030. While corporations like Bayer are restructuring their portfolios to be more environmentally friendly, global trading companies like Sumitomo are securing access to novel technologies. A key player in the agricultural transition is the innovative company MustGrow Biologics, which has developed natural plant protection products based on mustard seeds that effectively combat pests in the soil without causing long-term harm to the environment.
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Commented by Nico Popp on April 13th, 2026 | 07:10 CEST
Opportunities in West Africa: Barrick Mining and B2Gold Resume Investment – Desert Gold on the Verge of a Breakthrough
The gold industry in West Africa is largely characterized by consolidation along the Senegal-Mali Shear Zone (SMSZ), with securing economically viable reserves being the top priority for producers in an environment of high gold prices. According to forecasts by PwC consultants, this focus by the mining industry is making a decisive contribution to the economic stability of the entire region. While industry leaders such as Barrick Mining are ramping up production at the Loulo-Gounkoto complex following the resolution of regulatory disputes and forecasting production of up to 290,000 ounces for 2026, B2Gold is focusing on optimizing the massive Fekola complex. B2Gold plans total production of up to 970,000 ounces of gold for the current year and is investing heavily in regional exploration to extend the life of its core African assets. These investments demonstrate that the region is promising and that past country risks have receded into the background. In the immediate vicinity of well-known mines, Desert Gold is developing the SMSZ project, which, with resources of 1.3 million ounces of gold, represents one of the largest undeveloped land packages in the region. With the planned launch of a modular gravity plant this coming summer, the company is preparing for the transition to a junior producer. For this reason, Desert Gold offers a highly attractive prospect for investors: At a time when the major players are investing again, Desert could take off on its own or become a takeover target. Investors who position themselves in time are likely to benefit from this momentum.
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Commented by Nico Popp on April 10th, 2026 | 07:15 CEST
Gold Renaissance in Nevada: Nevada Gold Mines, Kinross Gold, and Takeover Candidate Lahontan Gold
Gold has shown increased volatility in recent weeks, while geopolitical developments continue to shape capital allocation across the sector. In response, producers are increasingly focusing on politically stable regions where existing infrastructure offers cost advantages. According to the Fraser Institute, Nevada remains one of the most attractive regions globally for mining investment. While industry leaders such as Nevada Gold Mines are setting standards through optimizations at their large-scale mines and corporations like Kinross Gold are actively searching for new resources in the Walker-Lane trend to replace their dwindling reserves, junior explorers offer a unique opportunity. The up-and-coming company Lahontan Gold operates the Santa Fe project, a former producing mine that recently made headlines with strong drill results. Thanks to a combination of existing permits and its location in one of the world's most productive gold regions, the company's flagship project aligns closely with the acquisition criteria of larger producers.
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Commented by Nico Popp on April 9th, 2026 | 07:25 CEST
Apple is joining the energy transition: OR Royalties as a model, RE Royalties as a beneficiary
Today, the financing of renewable energy increasingly relies on an instrument rooted in traditional mining. While established industry leaders like OR Royalties demonstrate through a diversified portfolio of precious and battery metal licenses how investment models can generate high margins without operational risks, RE Royalties is successfully adapting this concept for the renewable energy sector. The company finances solar, wind, and storage projects and, in return, secures long-term revenue shares, providing a predictable alternative to volatile commodity markets. This offering meets the strategic needs of tech giants like Apple, which, as part of its "Apple 2030" initiative, is investing heavily in clean energy projects to make its entire value chain climate-neutral. For investors, RE Royalties thus combines security and scalability in a unique business model.
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Commented by Nico Popp on April 9th, 2026 | 07:00 CEST
Focus on Copper and PGMs: Rio Tinto, Sibanye-Stillwater, and the Opportunity at Power Metallic Mines
Securing supplies of copper and platinum group metals (PGMs) is becoming increasingly important, as these elements are essential for both energy infrastructure and the hydrogen economy. Analyses by S&P Global and McKinsey forecast a rise in copper demand to 42 million metric tons by 2040, representing a 50% increase compared to 2025. At the same time, the International Energy Agency (IEA) reports that demand for hydrogen already reached approximately 100 million metric tons in 2024, driving the need for platinum and palladium in electrolysers. While major corporations like Rio Tinto are securing their market leadership by investing in massive copper projects to meet the industry's long-term needs, PGM specialist Sibanye-Stillwater is increasingly focusing on diversifying its portfolio toward polymetallic deposits in stable jurisdictions. It is in this environment that Power Metallic Mines operates its Nisk project in the Canadian province of Québec. Recent discoveries in the Lion Zone have confirmed exceptional copper grades exceeding 10% as well as significant PGM by-products. This quality in a world-class mining region makes the company attractive—both to investors speculating on strategic consolidations and to major corporations seeking world-class resources.
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Commented by Nico Popp on April 8th, 2026 | 07:20 CEST
Mitigating Risk, Capturing Opportunity: Pan American Silver and Franco-Nevada – Upside Potential at Globex Mining
In this volatile market environment, commodity investors are once again turning more heavily to safe havens to reduce their risks. While established producers like Pan American Silver are solidifying their market position by operating large mines in North and South America and taking full advantage of rising silver and gold prices, the royalty model has proven its worth on the financing front. Industry leaders such as Franco-Nevada have demonstrated for decades how a broadly diversified portfolio of royalties can generate consistent cash flows without having to bear the risks of active mining. Globex Mining operates in the same strategic niche with a portfolio of over 270 projects and 107 royalties, consistently focusing on politically stable jurisdictions such as Canada and the US. The combination of a strong cash position, stakes in partner companies such as Pan American Silver, and the steady generation of new royalties paints a clear picture: Globex Mining operates like a smaller-scale version of Franco-Nevada, offering investors both stability and growth opportunities. Since this agile project generator is even active in critical metals like antimony, investors should take a closer look at the company.
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Commented by Nico Popp on April 7th, 2026 | 07:25 CEST
Congo in Focus: Barrick and Ivanhoe Pave the Way for DRC Gold
The global mining industry is at a turning point—demand for new deposits is rising, while globalization is increasingly reaching its limits, making diversified and redundant supply chains essential. In this market environment, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has moved beyond its traditional role as a mere raw material supplier and is undergoing a significant transformation. The progress being made in the country is exemplified by the successes of companies like Barrick Mining and Ivanhoe Mines. Their multi-billion-dollar investments demonstrate that large-scale operations are indeed feasible in the DRC. The country's geological potential has once again drawn attention due to the recent record production at Barrick Mining's Kibali mine. While major corporations are successfully advancing projects in the DRC, junior explorers are also increasingly attracting investor attention. DRC Gold is capitalizing on this momentum and identifying new resources through drilling programs in close proximity to existing projects. Against the backdrop of declining reserves among major producers such as Barrick and Ivanhoe, the smaller company, led by German CEO Klaus Eckhof, offers an exciting opportunity to benefit from the new growth in the Congo.
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Commented by Nico Popp on April 2nd, 2026 | 07:50 CEST
Hydrogen as the Fuel of the Future: Linde Lays the Groundwork, Amazon Tests, and First Hydrogen Delivers the Solution
Is hydrogen on the verge of a breakthrough in logistics? Rising costs for fossil fuels are colliding with regulatory pressure and technological maturity. While battery-electric vehicles are already established in light urban delivery traffic, heavy payloads are also expected to be transported as CO2-neutrally as possible in the future. This is where pure battery technology reaches its limits in heavy, long-haul transport and intensive industrial logistics. Hydrogen is becoming increasingly important in this context, as it enables significantly longer ranges and shorter refueling times for intensive delivery operations compared to pure battery vehicles. While corporations like Linde are planning the necessary refueling infrastructure and hydrogen supply on a large scale, major fleet operators such as Amazon are increasingly exploring the use of fuel cells. In this market environment, First Hydrogen is positioning itself as a one-stop provider. With its light commercial vehicles, specifically developed for the demands of distribution transport and capable of ranges exceeding 600 km, as well as offerings centered on green hydrogen production, the company is striking a chord.
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Commented by Nico Popp on April 2nd, 2026 | 07:15 CEST
Nothing works without tungsten: Why the price surge continues and why SpaceX, Rheinmetall, and Almonty are in the spotlight
Instead of chasing digital pipe dreams, investors and industry are increasingly turning their attention to tangible commodities. The supply of critical metals is essential to our prosperity. In this new era, tungsten has taken on special strategic importance. With the highest melting point of any metal and a density exactly matching that of gold, the metal is an irreplaceable component in the defense industry, aerospace, and semiconductor manufacturing. The current market environment is characterized by a massive price surge compared to the previous year, with prices exploding from around USD 300 per MTU at the start of 2025 to over USD 2,750 per MTU today. Analysts at the trade magazine Mining Journal argue in detail in a recent analysis that this development is not a speculative bubble. Rather, the rally is driven by non-negotiable demand patterns and the physical depletion of global inventories. Unlike the silver bubble of 1980, this trend is supported by a multi-year delay in the commissioning of new Western production capacity, which is why the tight price environment is likely to persist for at least another two years. For Almonty, the only Western tungsten producer building relevant capacity within these two years, this represents a unique opportunity.
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Commented by Nico Popp on April 1st, 2026 | 07:20 CEST
Antimony as a Bottleneck: Challenges for Northrop Grumman and First Solar – Top Opportunity for Antimony Resources
Created and published on behalf of Antimony Resources Corp.
In the spring of 2026, global supply chains for the semi-metal antimony will be under severe pressure. Escalating geopolitical tensions, particularly the war in the Middle East and the de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, have left a deep mark. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), this is one of the most severe disruptions in recent history. The situation is exacerbated by China's export controls, as China historically controls around 48% of global antimony production. While civilian use of this critical element is partially possible again for US entities, military exports remain strictly prohibited. In this context, the focus is shifting to the development of new Western deposits. The goal: to reliably supply defense contractors like Northrop Grumman and solar companies like First Solar. The exploration company Antimony Resources plays a key role in this effort, offering a readily available solution with its Bald Hill project in Canada.
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